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Agreement on the Imposition of Restrictions on Imports in Categories of Archaeological and Ethnological Material of the Republic of Cyprus was signed today, on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus, the Director General of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, Mr. Stavros Michael and, on behalf of the Government of the United States of America, the US Ambassador to Cyprus, Ms. Judith Garber. The signing ceremony was symbolically held at the Cyprus Museum, a place where some of the most representative Cypriot antiquities are housed, a typical example of Cyprus' cultural diversity.
In his address at the signing ceremony, which was read on his behalf by the Director General of the Ministry, Mr. Karousos conveyed the sincere appreciation of the Government of Cyprus to the competent authorities of the United States for their continuous efforts to protect the cultural heritage of Cyprus. The commitment of the US to contribute to the protection of Cyprus' rich cultural heritage, the Minister noted, is demonstrated through the Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries, which has been in force since 2002. We are particularly pleased, he added, that our request for renewal and extension of this cooperation has been accepted by the US, and now includes cultural objects dating from the 11th millennium BC to objects 100 years old.
"Unfortunately, Cyprus and its cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible, are still facing the devastating consequences of the 1974 Turkish military invasion and the continued occupation of about 1/3 of the island since then. Monitoring of online auctions confirms that Cypriot cultural objects circulate in legal and illegal antiquities markets and auctions around the world, including in the USA, and are highly sought after. Even in the areas under the effective control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, looting continues despite intense efforts to suppress it", the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works stressed in his address.
As Mr. Karousos, the implementation of international agreements, such as the 1970 UNESCO Convention, the strengthening of national legislation, as well as the conclusion of bilateral international treaties, are at the heart of the policies implemented by the Cypriot Government in the fight against the illicit trafficking of our country's cultural heritage. In this context, the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works thanked the Government of the United States of America for its support, saying that the US is a valuable ally in Cyprus' actions to end the illicit trafficking of cultural heritage objects.
For her part, the US Ambassador to Cyprus welcomed the signing of the Agreement, through which the two countries are able to continue their common struggle for the protection of Cyprus' cultural heritage. Today's Agreement, Ms. Garber said, is one of many examples of the two countries working together on the basis of the principles they share. In this context, Ms. Garber referred to the sponsorship given earlier this year by the US to the United Nations Development Programme in Cyprus for the implementation of an educational programme for children from the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities on the importance of protecting the country's cultural heritage. In addition, professionals from Cyprus, the US and Greece held a joint training seminar last month, focusing on how to identify stolen cultural objects. In the coming months, the US will support the Republic of Cyprus' actions to repatriate Cypriot antiquities from the US with targeted actions.
As Ms. Garber noted, the United States of America recognizes the value and importance of antiquities as an integral part of our past. For this reason, and respecting the principles of international law, the United States stands firmly against those who illegally exploit cultural heritage, thus preserving it for future generations.
The fight against illicit trafficking of antiquities is a great challenge, said the US Ambassador, stressing however the determination of the two Governments to continue the joint effort to preserve and protect the cultural heritage of Cyprus.
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